A recent study by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has revealed that 77% of businesses in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region experienced at least one cyber incident in the past two years, leading to a surge in cybersecurity efforts across the region. The research, based on a survey of 234 IT security professionals in APAC, highlighted a lack of adequate threat detection tools (20%) and a shortage of internal IT security staff (24%) as the primary reasons for cyber incidents. Of those affected, 87% considered the incidents to be serious.
To address the shortage of local cybersecurity expertise, 57% of surveyed APAC companies plan to invest in outsourcing their cybersecurity requirements in the next 12 to 18 months. The study indicates a variety of approaches being considered, with 32% of respondents suggesting engaging more external specialists, 34% planning to invest in third-party professional services, and 34% aiming to outsource cybersecurity to Managed Service Providers/Managed Security Service Providers (MSP/MSSPs). Industries such as critical infrastructure, energy, oil, and gas are most likely to invest in third-party services.
While outsourcing is a preferred solution, organizations are also exploring automation of cybersecurity processes. Over half of the businesses in the region (51%) have concrete plans to introduce software that automates cybersecurity management in the next 12 months, with an additional 15% actively discussing this possibility.
Ivan Vassunov, VP of Corporate Products at Kaspersky, emphasized that outsourcing and automation can provide essential support for organizations grappling with a lack of expertise and alert overload. He recommended leveraging the services of managed security providers, adopting automated scripts, and investing in cybersecurity training to ensure the continuous updating of IT security specialists’ skills.
The study underscores the growing recognition of the need for robust cybersecurity measures in response to the escalating frequency and severity of cyber attacks in the APAC region.
